forewent
- simple past tense of forego2.
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forewent
[fawr-went, fohr-]
- simple past tense of forego1.
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forego1
[fawr-goh, fohr-]
- to go before; precede.
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Origin of forego1
forego2
[fawr-goh, fohr-]
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
relinquishrenounceforfeitwaiverefraineschewforsakequitsacrificeyieldneglectpasssurrenderprecedeExamples from the Web for forewent
Historical Examples
It was through the intervention of Ugolino that he forewent this mission.
Brother FrancisEileen Douglas
So they all forewent him and he entered till they brought him to the door of the Divan.
Alaeddin and the Enchanted LampJohn Payne
S—— forewent for a moment his amber mouthpiece to give us his experience and opinion.
But this I know: it was out of their inordinate desire for joy that they forewent joy.
When God Laughs and Other StoriesJack London
The first prize which fell to Caesar was the consulship, to secure which he forewent the triumph which he had earned in Spain.
forewent
- the past tense of forego 1
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forego1
- to precede in time, place, etc
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Word Origin
Old English foregān
forego2
- (tr) a variant spelling of forgo
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for forewent
forego
v.
"to go before," Old English foregan "to go before," from fore- + go. The similarly constructed foredone "killed, destroyed," now is archaic, replaced by done for. Related: Foregoing; foregone.
Phrase foregone conclusion popularized in "Othello" [III.iii], but Shakespeare's sense was not necessarily the main modern one of "a decision already formed before the case is argued." Othello says it of Cassio's dream, and it is clear from the context that Othello means Cassio actually has been in bed with Desdemona before he allegedly dreamed it.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper